Introducing Myself

Tam had no idea that he had already entered the Third Hokage's field of vision. If he had not come from Mount Myoboku with impeccable roots, he might have already been invited by the Anbu to tea, a chat, and a discussion about life.

Tam was in a frantic rush. The oversized mouse and keyboard he had ordered from a computer company yesterday had finally arrived, and he excitedly dragged Hinata, whom he had trained into a shut-in girl, into playing computer games with him. As it turned out, Tam really did find several games similar to The King of Fighters, bringing back memories of his youthful days dominating the arcades.

In the end, Hinata was dragged into the deep pit of computer games as well, bringing her one bed closer to Professor Yang's side. The two of them sparred through the night, then finally collapsed together onto the tatami mats. It was not until the next day, when Lord Hyuga Hiashi appeared before them with a stern face and anger radiating from him, that they were groggily awakened.

"Hmph! You have none of the bearing expected of the main family!" Lord Hiashi scolded Hinata in exasperation.

Hinata obediently lowered her head and apologized, but when she glanced at Tam beside her, puffing out his broad face and forcing himself to look remorseful, she could not help giggling again. Hyuga Hiashi grew even angrier inside, but could only glare at Tam, the culprit behind it all. He had no choice. Ever since this giant toad had appeared, his father's imposing authority and ability to keep people in line had vanished without a trace. Lord Hiashi felt as if he had invited a wolf into his home.

Tam knew he had gotten up late and would probably delay Hinata's trip to school. After hurriedly making preparations, he swallowed all the odds and ends Hinata needed for school in one gulp. That was right—he had discovered another use for the alternate spaces inside his body. There were two of them in total: one dark space filled with corrosive liquid for killing enemies, and another warm, gentle light-filled space that could not only hold companions but also serve as storage.

After putting everything away, Tam said to Hinata, "Hinata, don't sit on my head this time. Come into my mouth!"

The words sounded somewhat strange, but Hinata knew about Tam's special abilities. She had willingly cooperated in testing out all the effects of this skill.

Under the terrified gazes of the Hyuga household servants, Tam opened his enormous mouth and swallowed Hinata in one gulp. He instantly felt his body grow lighter, and the chubby toad seemed to become The Flash. In the blink of an eye, he was gone, leaving only the stunned servants shouting, "Oh no! The young lady was eaten by that Tam!"

My name is Tam, and I am the fastest toad in the world! Although Fukasaku, Gamabunta, and the other great figures of the frog world refused to accept that claim, this was Tam's most genuine feeling at the moment. Once Hinata entered that companion-only space, he felt his chakra and Hinata's chakra blend together like fish and water. It was as if Iron Man's arc reactor had been installed in his chest, producing an effect greater than one plus one. Tam's physical abilities were already no weaker than those of an ordinary chunin, and now he was leaving behind the legend of a Mount Akina street racer throughout Konoha's streets and alleys.

Meanwhile, most of the students in Class A had arrived.

The Uchiha family's little genius, the new generation of Ino–Shika–Cho heirs, the Aburame family's insect user, the Inuzuka family's ninja-dog user, and Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tailed Fox's jinchuriki. The quality of this class is incredible. Their homeroom teacher, Umino Iruka, held the roster and looked at the lively young faces before him with extremely complicated feelings.

Wait, isn't there also a daughter of the main Hyuga family who hasn't shown up?

Forget it. There might be some problem on the Hyuga family's side. The people from major clans are difficult to figure out, after all.

"Students," Iruka said after clearing his throat, "please quiet down."

They had just arrived at the Ninja Academy, and the children were still unfamiliar with their surroundings. They obediently quieted down.

"I am your homeroom teacher, Umino Iruka," Iruka introduced himself. "From now on, I will accompany you through these six years of study at the Ninja Academy."

Several well-mannered students took the lead in responding. "Hello, Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka smiled with satisfaction. "For the rest of our time, I would like everyone to come up and introduce yourselves so we can get to know one another. Who would like to volunteer to go first?"

"Me! Me! Me! Let me go first!" A somewhat brash yet cheerful voice rang out. Everyone looked toward the sound and saw Naruto, who looked utterly impatient to get started.

Naruto jogged up to the podium. Iruka, who had been prejudiced against Naruto because his parents had died at Kurama's hands, actually caught a glimpse of the Fourth Hokage's heroic bearing in him for a moment.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki!" Naruto announced loudly. "The people I like most are Big Brother Tam and Sakura!"

Naruto paused, then shouted a shocking declaration: "My dream is to earn Big Brother Tam's recognition and become Hokage! And to make Sakura fall in love with me!" It had to be said that after Tam had educated him and designed his appearance, Naruto had become much bolder, voicing wishes far more colorful and elaborate than before.

"Tch, what an arrogant guy." The genius boy Sasuke revealed a disdainful smile, adding a few more points of handsomeness to his flawless profile and drawing a chorus of cheers from the fangirls nearby.

"Hokage? What a troublesome guy." The super-genius Shikamaru reacted rather flatly.

"What a bold confession!" Ino was shocked by Naruto's exaggerated yet romantic move, and a gossipy flame suddenly blazed in her heart. She shook Sakura beside her excitedly. "Sakura, will you accept him?"

Sakura's face was full of embarrassment and anger. Gritting her teeth, she said, "That idiot Naruto. I'll teach him a proper lesson after class!"

What an optimistic and cheerful child. Could someone like him really be Kurama? Iruka's prejudice against Naruto changed considerably because of the small figure laughing recklessly on the podium.

After making the shocking declaration, "If you want office, climb Hokage Rock; if you want a wife, marry Sakura Haruno," our chosen one Naruto ran back down with a foolish grin and happily sat on Sakura's other side, gazing at her as if begging for praise. As expected, she greeted him with a flurry of punches. However, the beating awakened a bizarre side of Naruto, who let out blush-inducing moans. Sakura became too embarrassed to hit the freshly minted Shirai Naruto again, lest she create even more outrageous rumors.

With the joyful atmosphere Naruto had created, the self-introductions proceeded in an orderly fashion, one after another. After quite some time had passed and no one else came forward, Iruka asked, "Does anyone else want to come up and introduce themselves?"

"There's still us!" The classroom door suddenly flew open, and a chubby toad more than two meters tall hopped out.

"Is he a student too? Isn't that a summoning beast?" the elementary-school-aged children whispered among themselves.

"May I ask who you are?" Iruka asked in confusion, subtly taking up a battle stance as he guarded against the toad. After all, allowing a powerful summoning beast of unknown origins to appear among a group of students who had just entered the Ninja Academy was hardly safe.

"Uh..." Tam looked a little awkward. "Sorry, I forgot to take her out."

Forgot to take her out? What did he forget to take out? Everyone wondered in confusion.

Tam opened his enormous maw and, in a bizarre manner, reached inside and pulled out an unscathed, exquisitely delicate little girl. Then he calmly said, "I am Tam, a sage of Mount Myoboku, and she is my companion, Hinata Hyuga. Please take care of us!"